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Update: GPs warned about error in cardiovascular risk calculator

by Moriam Adetokunboh-Ajala
on the 16 May 2016

GPs have been advised not to use the QRISK2 cardiovascular risk calculator in the SystmOne prescribing software, after an error was discovered that may have led to some patients receiving statins unnecessarily and others not being prescribed treatment when this was appropriate.

The QRISK2 calculator is a predictive algorithm that helps to assess the potential risk of cardiovascular disease. | SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

An alert sent by the MHRA to GP practices advises that patients in whom the QRISK2 calculator was used may have had their potential risk of cardiovascular disease under- or overstated.

Surgeries using SystmOne should not use the QRISK tool until further notice. The QRISK2 calculator available at www.qrisk.org may be used instead, as it is not affected by this issue.

According to the MHRA, the risk to individual patients is small and the issue affects only a limited group of patients who should be re-evaluated at their next routine appointment.

The MHRA is working with TPP, the company who built the tool, to urgently resolve the issue and identify affected patients. TPP will be in touch with practices directly regarding affected patients; in the meantime, patients should be advised to continue taking their medication as prescribed.

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